Nerve Terminal Types of Sinus Gland and Neurosecretory Cell Types of X-organ in Crab Eriocheir sinensis

The ultrastructure of the X organ sinus gland complex in sexually immature Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis was examined under the electron microscope. The sinus gland (SG) is composed primarily of nerve terminals and glial cells. The terminal contains a great number of membrane bound granules, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and electron lucent vesicles. The profiles of the terminals are sometimes exhibited finger like projections. The X organ (XO) locates at the ventral surface of the medulla terminalis ganglion in the eyestalk, oppositing to SG. According to the features of granule size, shape, electron density and cytoplasm, 6 types of terminals in SG and 7 types of neurosecretory (NS) cells in XO were identified. The release process by exocytosis of the granules in SG was observed and a tentative comparison was made for the granules between different types of terminals and NS cells. It seemed that they had a good correspondence since no change in electron density and just a slight increase of sizes was shown.

Cytological studies on neurosecretory cell of the X-organ in Scylla serrata

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Noradrenaline as a putative neurotransmitter mediating hypotension-induced Fos-like immunoreactivity inthe supraoptic nucleus of the rat

Hemorrhage or hypotension induces extensive Foslike immunoreactivity in the magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus in rat, especially in the vasopressin neurons. The present study was to explore the neurotransmitter mediating this effect. Microinfusion of the alpha-adrenergic blocker into the supraoptic nucleus reduced the hypotension-induced Fos, whereas beta-antagonist did not affect it significantly. Alpha1- and alpha2-antagonist, prazosin and yohimbine,both reduced the Fos-positive cell counts. However, the effective dosage of yohimbine was much larger. Alpha1-agonist, methoxamine, induced abundant Fos-like immnnoreactivity in the vasopressin cells in this nucleus,while beta-and alpha2-agonist did not elicit such effect.Administration of the noradrenergic re-uptake inhibitor,desipramine, to this nucleus to locally accumulate the spontaneously released noradrenaline from the nerve terminals also induced Fos expression, mostly in the vasopressin cells.

Neuroendocrine Control of Posterior Regeneration in Tropical Earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae （Kinberg）

Eudrilus eugeniae （Kinberg）, well known vermicomposting earthworms, are often subjected to predator attacks leading to loss of body parts due to their surface living habit. Thus nature has gifted them the power of regeneration of lost body parts. As neurosecretion is the sole source of hormone in oligochaetes, we hypothesize that neurohormone secreted from the neurosecretory cells of the central nervous system （CNS） will control the phenomenon of regeneration in earthworms. In Eudrilus eugeniae, appearance of regeneration blastema was noticed within 72 h of posterior amputation. In fact, posterior amputation brought about multiple cytoplasmic alteration in the neurosecretory cells （NSCs） viz. deep stained A cells and moderately stained B cells in cerebral ganglia, deep stained ＇U＇ cells and moderately stained B cells in the sub-esophageal and ventral nerve cord ganglia. Massive depletion followed by marginal accumulation of NSM in the NSCs following 24 h and 48 h of amputation were recorded. Thereafter （72 h and 96 h of amputation） moderate to massive engorgement of NSM in the B cells, coupled with spectacular increase in number of A cells were noticed. Sequential changes involved in the secretory dynamics of NSCs, as well as, NSM accumulation both within and periphery of the ganglia （perineurium） provides evidence for the utilization of materials through repaired vascular systems during posterior regeneration in E. eugeniae.

Application of Theories of Free Radicals and Electron Spin Resonance for Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The present paper reviews new findings in redoxproperties of the active constituent of Chinese herbalmedicine(CHM),a kind of CHM or a compoundprescription as an antioxidant.Firstly,we have studiedtheir antioxidant and prooxidant actions with electronspin resonance(ESR).The results show that the activecomponents from over 10 kinds of CHM are able toscavenge the oxygen free radicals but propyl gallate

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-End-Organ Axes:Hormone Function in Female Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Classic hypothalamic-pituitary-end-organ feedback loops–the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA),hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroidal axis(HPTA),and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis(HPGA)–are associated with the neuroendocrine and immune systems in major depressive disorder(MDD).Female patients with MDD present with evident neuroendocrine and immunological changes.Glucocorticoid,thyroid hormone,and reproductive steroid levels fluctuate with menstrual cycles,which might lead to glucocorticoid receptor resistance,impairment of triiodothyronine conversion,and sex hormone secretion disorders.In this review,we summarize the independent and interactive functions of these three axes in female MDD patients.The similar molecular structure of steroids implies an interrelationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-end-organ axes and the competitive inhibitory effects at the receptor level,especially when considering the HPAA and HPGA.

Neuroendocrine differentiation in ovarian mucinous tumors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between neuroendocrine differentiation in ovarian mucinous tumors and its genesis. METHODS: A morphologic study of seventy-three cases of ovarian mucinous tumors (32 benign, 20 borderline, 21 malignant) using immunohistochemical and immunohistochemical/histochemical double staining techniques. RESULTS: The study showed that in tumors of benign, borderline and malignant types, the incidence of chromogranin A (CgA) positive cells was 62.5%, 75%, 76% and that of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) positive cells was 31.3%, 40% and 39%, respectively. Neuroendocrine cells (NEC) were not evenly distributed in any tumor. In four cases of the benign tumors, the number of CgA positive cells was more than 30 percent, localizing between the glandular basement membrane and the mucinous epithelial cells, with many intermediate cells containing both CgA and periodic acid-schiff (PAS) positive granules. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of both neuroendocrine and exocrine granules within the same cell has been previously described as 'intermediate' in pancreatic hyperplasia, pancreatic tumors and lung signet-ring cell carcinoids. This has not previously been observed in benign ovarian mucinous tumors. Finding both endocrine and exocrine granules within a single cell seems to indicate a histogenetic relationship between the ovarian endocrine and exocrine cells. The four cases of the benign tumors might be originated from a common stem cell, such as the so-called amphocrine cell. The relationship between these four tumors and neuroendocrine differentiation in ovarian mucinous tumors needs to be further clarified.